Introduction: why you need a pedometer in a smartphone and how it works
Modern smartphones, including the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, feature motion sensors that allow you to track the number of steps without additional gadgets. The stepmer in the phone uses a combination of an accelerometer, a gyroscope and machine learning algorithms to count movements. This is convenient if you forgot your fitness bracelet at home or want to save money on buying a Mi Band.
However, many users face problems: pedometer overestimates or underestimates by 20-30% compared to sleep trackers, the reason lies in the wrong calibration, background energy saving restrictions or conflicts with other applications. In this article, we will discuss how to fine-tune the pedometer on the Redmi 8 Pro, synchronize it with Mi Fit and fix typical errors.
It is important to understand that the accuracy of the pedometer in a smartphone will always be lower than that of dedicated devices like the Mi Band 6 or Amazfit GTR. But with the right setup, the error can be reduced to 5-10% – this is enough for most users.
Hardware Check: Is there a pedometer in your Redmi 8 Pro?
Before you set up the software, make sure your Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro is physically able to count steps. The model uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chipset that includes a low-consumption touch hub (SLPI) to process sensor data. However, some firmware can block access to these features.
To check for sensors:
- Install the CPU-Z app from Google Play.
- Go to the Sensors section.
- Scroll down to Step Counter or Accelerometer.
- If the sensors are displayed, but the steps do not count, the problem is in the software, not in the hardware.
If CPU-Z doesn't have sensors, it might be turned off at the firmware level, and it might help:
- 🔄 Update MIUI Up to the latest version through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
- 🛠️ Install custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) if you are willing to lose warranty.
- 📱 Resetting settings to factory (pre-make a backup!).
Activation of the built-in pedometer through Mi Fit
The main tool for working with the pedometer on Xiaomi is the Mi Fit app, which not only counts steps, but also syncs data with other devices in the ecosystem (for example, the Mi Band or Mi Scale scales), download it from Google Play or AppGallery (for users without Google services).
Step-by-step instructions for setting up:
Register a Xiaomi account (if not)|Enable geolocation and permissions for Mi Fit|Activate the "Stepher" option in your profile|Sync your data with Mi Cloud-->
- Open Mi Fit and log in through your Xiaomi account (or create a new one).
- Go to Profile → Settings → Devices → Add the device.
- Select a smartphone from the list.
- Allow the application to access: 📍 Geolocation (for correct distance calculation). 🏃 Physical activity (to keep steps in the background). 📱 Data about the phone (model, version) MIUI).
Activity tracking
Once activated, the pedometer will start operating in the background, and the data will be updated every 5-10 minutes (depending on the energy saving settings), to verify accuracy, follow exactly 100 steps and compare the performance in Mi Fit with the real number.
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If the pedometer doesn’t turn on, try turning off battery optimization for Mi Fit in Settings → Applications → Application Management → Mi Fit → Battery → No restrictions.
Calibration of the pedometer for accurate calculation of steps
Even after activation, the pedometer can make a mistake, for example, in transport or when shaking the phone, it records "false" steps. To minimize the error, calibrate:
Method 1: Manual calibration via Mi Fit
- Open Mi Fit and go to Profile → Settings → Stepmer.
- Select Calibration.
- Enter the actual length of your step (measure it in advance: walk 10 meters and divide the distance by the number of steps).
- Save the settings and follow the test route (e.g. 500 meters).
After calibration, check the accuracy at a distance of 1 km. If the difference with the real distance is more than 10%, repeat the procedure or try alternative applications (for example, Accupedo or Pedometer).
Why does a pedometer count steps while driving?
Synchronization of pedometer with Mi Band and other devices
If you have a Mi Band 4/5/6 or other Xiaomi fitness bracelet, you can sync data between devices to avoid duplication.
| Action. | Instructions | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Connecting Mi Band | Open Mi Fit. Press Add Device → Bracelet. Select your Mi Band model. | Make sure that the bracelet is Bluetooth enabled. |
| Disabling duplication of steps | Go to Profile → Mi Band → Pedometer settings. Select Priority: Bracelet. | Now the steps will only be taken into account with the Mi Band, not with a smartphone. |
| Exporting data to Google Fit | In Mi Fit, go to Settings → Connected apps. Activate sync with Google Fit. | The data will be available in other fitness services (e.g. Strava). |
If steps are duplicated after synchronization (for example, Google Fit shows the sum of the indicators from the phone and bracelet), turn off the pedometer on one of the devices.
- In Mi Fit, go to Profile → Settings → Stepmer.
- Turn off the option to count steps from the phone.
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With simultaneous use of the smartphone and Mi Band, it is better to give priority to the bracelet - its sensors are 15-20% more accurate.
Optimizing energy consumption: how pedometer affects the battery
The constant operation of the motion sensors and background activity of the Mi Fit can reduce the battery life of the Redmi 8 Pro by 5-15%.
- ⚡ Turn off High Accuracy in geolocation settings (Battery mode is sufficient).
- 🔄 Set the data synchronization interval in Mi Fit for 30-60 minutes (not 5-10 minutes).
- 🛑 Add Mi Fit to the battery optimization exception list: Settings → Battery and productivity → Battery consumption management → Annexes → Mi Fit → No restrictions.
Also check which other applications use motion sensors, such as Google Fit or S Health, which can duplicate Mi Fit features, using additional power, and disable unnecessary services in each app's settings.
⚠️ Attention: If the pedometer stopped working after optimization, check if the touch hub is disabled in the developer settings. → The phone. → Version. MIUI (Press 7 times, then in Settings. → Additionally. → For developers and make sure that the option to Disable sensors when blocked is turned off.
Troubleshooting: Pedometer doesn’t work or thinks wrong
If after setting up the pedometer still does not function, use the checklist for diagnosis:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Stepmer not included | No permits for Mi Fit | Check the permission settings in Settings → Applications → Mi Fit. |
| The steps are not synchronized with the Mi Band. | Conflict of firmware versions | Update the Mi Fit and bracelet firmware through the official app. |
| Indicators overstated by 30%+ | Wrong calibration | Repeat the calibration manually (see section above). |
| Stepmer resets after rebooting | Mi Fit cache error | Clear the app cache in Settings → Applications → Mi Fit → Storage. |
If the problem persists, try alternative apps:
- 📊 Accupedo – Supports manual calibration and data export.
- 🏃 Pacer – uses AI algorithms to filter out false steps.
- 🌍 Google Fit – integrates with other Google services.
⚠️ Note: On the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS), the built-in pedometer may not work due to the lack of drivers for the touch hub. MIUI.